Radler Trail Bier
von Trapp Brewing

 

 

 

Best by 9/21/22

It’s odd to see a Radler canned these days, especially from an esteemed brewery such as von Trapp. After all, this isn’t Leinenkugel. I actually trust the Lager game from von Trapp (duh) so I have decently high hopes for this one. Let’s see if I’m right to have these hopes

Pours a cloudy pale gold with 2 fingers of off white head that quickly fades to a thin ring and leaves minimal lacing

Man, this is just straight up grapefruit in the nose, so intense and honestly great. I'm picking up on aromas of red grapefruit juice, grapefruit zest, herbal hops, toasted grain, light honey, and lemon zest

It's a bit less intense in taste, but it's still very present and fun. On the front end of the sip I'm tasting red grapefruit. orange zest, crackery malt, peppery hops, and light honey. The swallow brings notes of grapefruit zest, orange juice, bready malt, toasted grain, honey, and light lemon zest

A light body pairs with moderate carbonation, resulting in a crisp and juicy beer. Finishes a tad sticky but still refreshing

This one is honestly better than I had expected. For something you don't have to think much about, it's quite tasty and easy to drink

 

 

 

 

Poured from the can into a nonic(k) pint glass.

This is definitely a real nice looking radler. Rich lathering head at just over three fingers, off white, and slightly pink hued in color also. Dissolves nicely with a foamy touch, and leaves a deep lemon to grapefruit orange opaque body color. Aggressive bold head and a rich thick looking body, totally unexpected.

Aroma is straight up rich grapefruit oil and huge amounts of pith and zest. Doesn't come off artificial, but doesn't provide much other beer character either to hint at. A one note nose, but a dang good one that isn't sugary sweet either for this style.

Palate gives just the right amount of goods nearly. Slightly wet bodied, with a big amount of fresh squeezed grapefruit juice and pithy oils. Slightly bready finish which is real nice, sweetness dialed down to a minimum if down right completely off, leaving for a real unexpected malt dryness that just makes you want more.

A real excellent fruited beer. I love that this isn't really sweet either, but hits somewhere between fruited excess, and dried out malt flavors. Could pound these all day, good stuff.

 

12 oz can into a giant mug for some reason.

Pours a hazy yellow gold color with a finger of white head. No retention or lacing whatsoever.

Aromas of grapefruit, bready malt, and subtle spicy hops.

The flavor is much of the same. Grapefruit juice up front followed by some grassiness and a ton of doughy malt.

The feel is medium-light bodied with pretty good carbonation. Dry finish. Could use a bit more carbonation but very nice, nonetheless.

Overall, this is a nice radler. There is absolutely nothing special about it whatsoever, but I think it accomplished what it set out to be: A highly drinkable summer beer. Refreshing as a beer can get.

12oz can purchased from the fridge as a single for $1.78. Best By 9/15/21, so hard to say when it was canned but seems to be relatively fresh and summer just started.

Look: Honestly doesn't look so pretty as it looks like what it is - beer with grapefruit juice. Then again, it doesn't look that different from a lot of hazy beers. It's peach colored and a bit murky....almost looks like a mimosa. No head retention due to the acidity.

Smell: The aroma is very citrusy, floral, and perfumy. Lots of pink grapefruit - very fleshy and pulpy, sweet, zesty and aromatic as well. Also a bit grassy and earthy from the Helles lager, but the pink grapefruit is the star of the show. Smells nice.

Taste: Very crushable and refreshing. The first sip was a huge gulp as I am thirsty and this is quenching my thirst and very tasty on my palate. Up front, it's juicy, sweet, and tart. The finish is mildly pithy and bitter, overall finishes semi-dry.

Feel: Nicely carbonated, it's spritzy and refreshing. It would be nice if the finish is crisper, but that's hard to achieve with the residual sugar in this beer.

Overall: There will always be people who hate on these types of beers. I don't care, I disagree with those people and think that these types of beers are delicious, especially in the summertime. This is a 3.9% ABV beer. You can either achieve a 3.9% ABV beer by diluting a stronger beer (as was done here with the addition of grapefruit), or you can achieve a 3.9% ABV beer by using just enough malt and other fermentables to yield such a low ABV result. To me, this is still a beer and as long as BA allows me to review it, that's all that matters.

From can:
A refreshing summer session blend of Helles-style lager with grapefruit.

The Von Trapp folks added this beer. The can calls it a radler but the brewer categorizes it as a Helles. It tastes more like a radler. Not fruity enough at least in comparison to the German/Austrian radlers I’ve tasted.

 

 

(12 oz can; BB: 09/15/21; purchased cold single at Pinocchio's... poured into a 14 oz mug)

L: extremely over-carbonated, huge head 2:1 to liquid; pink-amber liquid, hazy as helles; pearly white foam, builds high, crumbles quick... slippy lace, aka no lace

S: perfumy grapefruit drenched croissant... a subtle herbal edge of noble hop?... grapefruit upholstry

T: nutty yeast, grapefruit dandruff, crackery back note... an initial citrusy burst, splaying out away, leaving a dry, desiccated grapefruit peel, mildly nutty toast-tinged granola; fruity, lightly pingy-spicy, and quickly vacuum-dry...

F: juice with body... soft spicy warmth builds quick?... more juice than 'lager'?; subtly silky flow, long finish, delicately acidic afterglow

O: cloudiest, dirtiest, dankest Radler I've had, ever, and I'm grateful... it ain't quite a hefe-Radler, but it's got the look... won't zazz your senses, but it's full-flavored for its construct... may be able to throw back a 12-pack, idk (1760)

 

12 oz. can.
Moderate to vigorous pour yields a one inch off white head over a peach colored body with scant lacing. Nose of grapefruit with taste of the same. Good feel and overall, a highly quenching summer refresher to be sure. I could drink a few of these in a sitting, most definitely.
Prost!